Tricia Snodgrass of Longview approaches the finish line at the Millarville Run to the Farmers’ Market last June. This year's race is June 14.

Wheel file photo

A popular running event is introducing a unique way to carbo-load.

The Millarville Run to the Farmer’s Market half-marathon on June 14 is introducing the eight-mile Cobs Cinnamon Bun Run.

“You can register as a bunner – you are someone who will stop at a couple of cinnamon buns stations along the way – and then finishing up at the farmers’ market,” said Rick Charlton, Millarville Run to the Farmer’s Market race director. “I did a test run of about 10 miles in the fall and found it was an easy enough task, so we thought we would give it a try.”

The Cobs cinnamon bun run is just part of the icing of the cake of the popular run. The main bread-and-butter of the festivities remains the half-marathon.

The 21.1 km run and bun run both start at Oilfields High School and end at the entrance of southern Alberta’s best farmers’ market just north of Millarville. There’s nothing like ending a race at a place with a whack of fresh food, crafts and music to draw runners – and non-runners.

At the inaugural run in 2012, there were 296 entries, last year there were 525 and Charlton is hoping to exceed the 625 people this year.

“What we have found is that every participant tends to bring an additional two people to the farmer’s market,” Charlton said. “There might be 4,000 to 4,500 people at the market that day. It will be a very busy day at the farmers’ market.”

The runners also come for the view and the fresh country air.

It’s a scenic course along the foothills and while some runners will find this hard-to-believe, it actually has negative net elevation gain.

“A race director’s term might be undulating,” Charlton said with a chuckle. “It’s a course where you might have some ups-and-downs. There’s a 3.2-km downhill stretch that is followed by a 1.2 kilometre hill.

“It’s not a flat-course, you can’t just run mindlessly, you do have to be thinking your course through as you are marching through it,” he said.

One of the best ways to attack the course is cut the darn thing in half with the help of a friend. The popular two-person relay race is also an option. The relay has one runner running a leg of 9.5km and 11.6km.

The Millarville run is back on track after being hit by the 2013 flood.

“We had a beautiful morning for our event, but unfortunately five days later some of the bridges around Black Diamond had been washed out, the Millarville entrance road had been cut, but all that has been repaired and we are in tip-top shape,” Charlton said.

Although proceeds of the run will go towards the maintenance and the operation of the farmer’s market, runners can also collect donations for eight other foothills charities. within the foothills.Organizers provide pre-shuttle service for runners who chose to park at the market to Oilfields high school or post-race service for those wishing to park at Oilfields for the start of the run.

Registration for the three runs is on-line. To register or get more information, go to millarvillehalfmarathon.com

On the run

The running season is just starting up in the foothills. The 12th annual Friendship Run will take place May 17 starting at the Centennial Pason Arena. The 20km run finishes at the High River Agriculture Grounds in High River.

The run offers a glorious view of the Rockies, and the course is on back roads just west of Highway 2A to avoid the busy traffic on that road. Runners can run the entire distance or run in relay teams.

This year there is a halfway point for runners wanting to do around 10km. There is no cost, but donations will be taken for the High River Cancer Centre, a facility which is used by patients from both communities and the foothills.

For more information go to bigrockrunners.com

As well High River is gearing up for the High River Canada Day half-marathon, 10km, 5km run.

The theme is High River is Up and Running after last year’s event was cancelled due to the flood.

Proceeds of the run go to the Foothills AIM Society, which helps special needs adults live in their home communities.

This year’s run is dedicated to Jacqui Brocklebank, who was an AIM client and was killed in last year’s flood in High River while attempting to help a friend. To register go to highriverhalf.com. Registration has also begun for the Big Rock Runners’ Sheep River 5km/10km Road Race on Labour Day in Okotoks.

There is also a children’s fun run at 8:30 a.m. just prior to the main event.

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